Raptors Sign Free Agent Anthony Parker

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed free agent guard-forward Anthony Parker to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

“Anthony is a high character and experienced player that has proven over several years now that he belongs in the NBA,” said Bryan Colangelo, president and general manager of the Raptors. “His addition adds great scoring punch to our lineup of guards and another veteran presence for this young team.”

Raptors fans will remember Parker for hitting the game-winning shot with less than a second remaining to lead Maccabi to a 105-103 preseason win at Air Canada Centre on October 16, 2006. He finished the game with a team-leading 24 points (10-15 FG, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds and four steals.

Parker, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, returns to the NBA after six impressive seasons overseas, including five with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. He was named Euroleague MVP and first-team All-Euroleague in 2005 and 2006. He was also named 2004 Euroleague Final Four MVP.

Parker led Maccabi to five Israeli National Championships (2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06), five Israeli National Cups (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006), three Euroleague championships (2001, 2004 and 2005) and a Suproleague title (2001).

Parker played in Italy with Virtus Roma in 2002-03, which marked the lone season from 2000-06 that Maccabi failed to win either the Israeli National Championship or Israeli National Cup.

Parker averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals for his career in Israeli league play, shooting .588 on two-pointers, .463 from three-point range and .818 at the free throw line. In Euroleague action, he averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals in five seasons. He shot .549 per cent from the two-point area, .407 from beyond the three-point arc and 80.3 per cent at the foul line.

Parker was a first-round draft pick of New Jersey (21st overall) in the 1997 Draft, but was dealt to Philadelphia on draft night. He played two seasons with the 76ers before moving on to Orlando for one season. He averaged 2.4 points and 1.0 rebounds in 55 career games.